Luxurious Magazine: We Review The StrideBiome - Microbiome and Gut Health Testing Kit

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Luxurious Magazine: We Review The StrideBiome - Microbiome and Gut Health Testing Kit

Stride is a UK-based company that has built precision health products for some of the world’s biggest brands. It is now bringing its years of microbiology, nutrition, and genetic research to the general public in the form of vitamin supplements and a variety of in-depth DNA and Health tests. One of the new services it offers via its in-house laboratory is microbiome and gut health testing, which is the subject of this review feature.

Inside and on every human is a diverse collective of up to 100 trillion living microorganisms, made up of bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and other microbes. This cornucopia of essential goodness can be found in our mouths, eyes, skin, etc. However, by far and away, the most preferred place they choose to live is in our gut system, and we commonly refer to this community as our Microbiome. 

Even though trillions of lifeforms live in our gut, most of us pay little heed to it, know little about it, and treat it incredibly poorly by consuming and pouring foods, chemicals, and liquids into their home, which is hardly conducive to its proper function.

Dysbiosis is the term for an improperly functioning microbiome, which describes an imbalance in microbial composition, diversity, or function. Dysbiosis can produce or at least contribute to a wide range of significant health problems across multiple body systems. Poor diet is the most obvious cause of dysbiosis; however, antibiotics, stress, and infections can also contribute.

I am not trying to be alarmist, but not understanding or caring for one’s Microbiome can lead to all manner of significant health issues, such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular problems, heart failure, and more. If you do want to be alarmed, I would advise you to visit a dedicated and authoritative medical health website and research what a poorly functioning microbiome does to one’s body.

Although I treat my Microbiome with the reverence it deserves by eating organic foods, taking supplements, exercising, consuming homemade kombucha and kefir, etc., I don’t know if it is functioning as it should, and even if I have all the requisite microorganisms inside me.

This complete lack of knowledge reminds me of when my husband talks to me about his meditation; he says, “You can meditate all you want; it can feel great, but without seeing the brainwave and blood flow data, you’ll have no idea what’s going on inside your head or if you are actually meditating!”

When a representative contacted me on behalf of Stride with the offer to try the StrideBiome Microbiome Test kit, it was the ideal opportunity to learn if I was on the right track and get better acquainted with the tiny universe living inside me.

The Microbiome and Gut Health Testing

For its Microbiome and Gut Health test, I had to take a small stool sample, which was then sent to Stride for them to analyse using their gold-standard 16s rRNA technology.

At its in-house laboratory, the team then mapped out my gut ecosystem, analysing more than seventy bacterial species across thirty-one genera and sixteen families to reveal detailed insights into my gut health, the gut-brain connection, metabolic health, and digestive function.

Once this has been done, the data is presented in sections detailing the abundance, diversity, and richness of the microbes.

All of this data was then made available to me on its website, which was secured by two-factor authentication. Even though I had a thorough breakdown of what was living inside me, I needed an expert to explain what it all meant, which is where a conversation with a specialist was needed. 

The Video Consultation

Armed with the staggering array of difficult-to-pronounce words, numbers, and percentages from the Stride in-house laboratory, it was time for a consultation to better understand what they meant.

For my video consultation, I had my husband, Paul, present as he has written extensively about the Microbiome and was keen to further his knowledge. Our thirty-minute consultation was with Bianca van Aswegen (below), Stride’s qualified Dietetics Expert, who was ready and waiting for us at the allotted time.

The first thing I should state is that Bianca was lovely. She had a calm and pleasant manner and was an expert in turning all the complicated words and the masses of numbers and reports into more easily understood jargon.

Although my reports showed that my Microbiome diversity was excellent, I was below average in some areas, which was disheartening, given my dietary and fitness efforts.

However, Bianca was quick to point out why some of my results were lower than I expected. Within a matter of minutes, she concluded that it was likely due to medication that my doctor had prescribed that I had used sparingly a few weeks earlier. What surprised me was that Bianca said this by looking at the numbers and variety of microorganisms without my prompting!

It was also highlighted that even though I try to follow all of the suggestions from the most knowledgeable gut health and dietary experts on the planet. Some of my microorganism percentages were low.

By pure coincidence, I was recently sent a selection of microbiome-enhancing food supplements from Precision Biotics. Amongst the products was Alflorex. After discussing what it was designed to do and reading out the ingredients list to Bianca, she felt it would be beneficial to start taking them in the short term, as they were already close at hand.

Our video consultation covered multiple areas, including diet, fitness and exercise, obesity risk, the impacts of ageing, how our mediating helps the mind-gut axis and much more.

All of the questions we posed to Bianca were answered, and I would best describe the overall consultation experience as excellent. After our video call, I was confident that I knew more, and any concerns I had were gone.

It wasn’t until I had undergone the Microbiome and Gut Health testing with Stride that I realised how important a service like this is. I followed all the rules and recommendations, but just taking a medication that wasn’t really necessary undid some of my good work.

StrideBiome – Microbiome and Gut Health Test – Where and How?

Given that most people experience changes to their lifestyles and diets and are occasionally ill, Stride recommends that we re-test our microbiomes every three to four months to ensure that any potential issues can be identified before they occur.

The StrideBiome testing kit is currently offered at a discounted price of £279.20 and is available to order from getstride.com.

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Read the original article posted on Luxurious Magazine. 

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